Two Kinds of Pool Parties

The Capitol Skyline Hotel’s pool will play host to family-oriented Certifikid and hipster-oriented Brightest Young Things this summer. (Courtesy Capitol Skyline Hotel)

The Capitol Skyline Hotel has come a long way in the past 10 years — from skeevy motel to hipster camp to family-friendly deal on Certifikid.

Certifikid, the Groupon-like service for parents, is offering families the chance to split time at the Skyline’s super-cool pool this summer with the likes of Brightest Young Things.

Just not at the same time.

On the weekend, the young and hip will “dig through your closet for your ironic tees, trucker hats, Buddy Holly glasses, and keffiyehs” and embrace the “Bullhorns! … Skulls! … Cute interns!” says BYT’s Hipster Camp announcement from last summer.

BYT has committed to at least three events this summer, according to Skyline General Manager Jeff Ragonese, and other stuff is in the works. “Think food truck and pool party,” he tells HOH. Most of it will be in the $15-$20 range, he says.

During weekdays, the Skyline will switch gears. “A languid lounge in their competition-size outdoor pool … is just what every family needs — add to that an 18,000-square-foot deck perfect for snack time” is how Certifikid describes its summer-long, $250 weekday family membership.

The one-time Best Western, designed by “Googie” architect Morris Lapidus, occupied a musty stretch of South Capitol Street for years — between the Department of Motor Vehicle’s emissions-testing plaza and near Southeast’s “adult” club district, an area that was not yet home to Nationals Park.

Under the stewardship of the Rubell family, the Skyline’s makeover attracted young people searching for good times, cheap drinks and a little tomfoolery.

In 2009, the Skyline started hosting weekend pool parties. Nominal cover fees allowed young adults to hang out, eat burgers by Good Stuff Eatery founder Spike Mendelsohn and indulge in chicken fights in the pool.

Perhaps the Skyline is making a play for the Brightest Young Things as they age and begin breeding? Start with weekends, transition to weekdays? Pool season opens May 26.